Do you have Windows Phone 8 (see review)? Okay, well probably not quite yet but if you are about to get one and you have some Bing points sitting by (you know, those things you get for every time you do a search using Bing on your computer), you can use 'em for the Windows Phone Store.

Yup, Bing Rewards has two special Windows Phone 8 offers on hand--one for 170 credits ($1.25) and one for 525 credits ($5). Redeeming them will turn into credits/voucher for the Store, which you can then use to buy Windows Phone apps...

The process is kind of neat and requires Windows Phone 8 because it uses the Wallet feature. After your purchase, you will receive a conformation email with a long code which you then redeem.

On your Windows Phone 8 device, you head to Wallet and tap "Add" to bring up the Microsoft Gift Card. You then simply copy/paste the code there and the OS will take care of the rest by validating the information. It then creates a Microsoft Store Credit in your Wallet which you can then opt to use to pay for apps.

Over all, it's a neat addition and finally brings Microsoft and Store credits to the masses. We can envision picking up Gift Cards at Microsoft Stores as stocking stuffers for the holidays.

Head to Bing Rewards (US only) to get the deal. Thanks, John H., for the tip!

I was saving them until I had enough to buy Microsoft Points for Skyrim: Dawnguard. However, after seeing this, that'll change. Like I said before, I previously used some to get Minecraft for the 360, and that was a huge disappointment.

Have you seen the video recording from the Lumia 920?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUYDOTC53II&feature=player_embedded
Nokia has great signal reception and call quality. Should be better than the 8X at those. Lumia 920 has Dolby digital processing technology for headphones to compete with the overhyped Beats audio.
Lumia 920 - wins with call quality, signal reception, camera, display, outdoor visibility, super sensitive touch, audio recording, wireless charging and exclusive apps.
HTC 8X - Front facing camera and that's about it.
I've heard both Lumia 920 and Pureview 808 use the same 3 mics. Here is an audio from the 808 to compare with the Lumia 920.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dagVoPuOQLY&list=UUQ2%C2%ADyNmuZrbXQf6-Ky...

"By using state-of-the-art digital processing technology, Dolby Headphone creates an acoustic illusion. Much like when you’re in a cinema, at a concert or listening to music through a home entertainment system, your ears pick up direct sound from each speaker as well as sound bounced from other surfaces and furnishings in the room. Dolby Headphone technology recreates this audio experience, producing the sonic signature you’d expect from a perfect acoustic environment."

I'm aware that some of us that already use bing might think of them as free, but the credits aren't free.
You have to search with bing to get them. Find any user that prefers google vs bing and tell them about this, and they probably won't consider the credits free. Especially once you break down that to get the $5 card they would have to wait about 33 days, and do approx 984 searches...

Well, I switched to Bing a LONG time ago. I cannot say I necessarily prefer it to Google, but I also don't prefer Google to Bing. However, when you're comparing Bing (which is visually pleasing and has a rewards program) to Google (which is visually neutral and has no rewards program), preferring Bing makes sense, and I prefer it FOR that.

Oh, and if you are an Xbox LIVE or Windows Phone user, not needing a Google account for Bing is also a positive.

True but there is a bigger point to the story: Microsoft can distribute Gift Cards that can be redeemed in the Windows Phone Store.

That's true regardless of location and even if you can't get Bing Rewards, you should be able to get a MS Gift Card for yourself or friends/family in the future. In other words, it's big platform news.

This conversion ratio is not as good as it is for Microsoft Points (400 MSP = 475 Credits) or Amazon Gift cards ($5 =475 credits), so I will probably pass. Neat for those that dont have an Xbox and only want to buy apps on the phone.

It totally depends on what you want, though. I have no desire to get an Amazon gift card, and I was disappointed in my purchase choice with the Microsoft Points I got with Bing Rewards (Minecraft), so getting some nice apps for my phone is worth the extra few cents.

Been doing this with Amazon gift cards. I think this is something else that should be in WP7 at least. Can't imagine a hardware requirement for something like this... anyways. I hope they find a way to implement this for WP7.x users as well, just like putting credit on their account like Microsoft points on Zune.

im psyched about my red 920 but good lord HTC did such a beautiful job on the design of this phone. Seeing some of the test photos for this baby id say that camera quality is fantastic. i was seriously considering this over the 920 had it been cheaper it would have been a no brainer but because its the same price as the 920 may as well go for the suped up phone

I use the points for Xbox Live points. I have accumilated close to 2000 points through Bing searches. Now being able to use them for the Windows Phone store is a great feature. It might be cheating but what I do is start a search and then just keep clicking the related search links :) You can rack up points quickly that way.